On March 18, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held talks with Gabon’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Francophony, Emmanuel Issoze-Ngondet, who was in Moscow on a working visit.

During a detailed exchange of opinions on a wide range of global and regional issues, the ministers pointed to the closeness of their views on the ongoing processes. They agreed that there is no alternative to the multipolar world and to international relations based on equality, and that double standards and unilateral actions on the international stage are unacceptable. They also highlighted the need to strengthen the central role of the UN in global affairs and discussed the issue of UN reforms in a spirit of mutual understanding and with a focus on ensuring the broadest possible accord between the UN member states.

Mr Lavrov explained Russia’s position of principle on the Ukrainian crisis, which his Gabonese colleague accepted with sympathy.

Mr Issoze-Ngondet praised Russia’s assistance to its African partners during the Ebola outbreak.

The ministers discussed in detail the situation in the troubled areas of Africa and the Middle East, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Libya, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Iraq and Syria. They pointed to the need to build up international efforts against terrorism and extremism, including the Islamic State, Boko Haram and other radical groups, as well as piracy in in the Gulf of Guinea.

The ministers also spoke in favour of promoting cultural and educational ties and mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation between Russia and Gabon in exploration, mining and other sectors.

 

March 18, 2015